The Philadelphia Phillies have been among the cooler stories of the 2018 season. After several seasons of bumpy rebuilding http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-joe-kelly-jersey , they've blossomed earlier than expected and appear ticketed to make their first postseason foray since 2011.Then again, of the three teams with a shot to crack the postseason from the National League East, here is how the run differentials stacked up entering play Wednesday:Phillies (plus-39)Atlanta Braves (plus-67)Washington Nationals (plus-69).The Phils offense tied for 19th in runs scored and ranked22nd in OPS. The pitching staff has done its part, but it's worth wondering if Philadelphia's bats can fend off the Braves and Nats, let alone lead the club on a deep October charge.Milwaukee Brewers2 of 5Chase AndersonThearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesThe Milwaukee Brewers are nipping at the heels of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central and would be the NL's top wild-card team if the season ended Wednesday.On the other hand, their plus-34 run differential is the same as the Los Angeles Angels, who are a game under .500 and buried in fourth place in the American League West.The Brew Crew's fatal flaw may be the starting rotation, which owns a respectable-but-unspectacular 3.91 ERA. Junior Guerra (3.42ERA), Chase Anderson (3.81 ERA) and Jhoulys Chacin (3.89 ERA) are decent mid-rotation options. Jimmy Nelson is still working his way back from September shoulder surgery. None is a lights-out ace.That's an especially important commodity in the do-or-die Wild Card Game, which means the Brewers should do all they can to catch the Cubbies.If they don't, they could be destined for a quick postseason exit.Seattle Mariners3 of 5Stephen Brashear/Getty ImagesThe Seattle Mariners are two games behind the Oakland Athletics for second place in the AL West and the Junior Circuit's second wild-card position.With so much time remaining Blake Swihart Jersey , that sentence makes it sound as though the M's have a solid shot at snapping their 16-year playoff drought.Don't get your hopes up, Seattle fans: The Mariners' minus-25 run differential is easily the worst of any team with a winning record. Their starting pitchers rank 17th in baseball with a 4.19 ERA, and erstwhile ace Felix Hernandez appears to befinished.General manager Jerry Dipoto did his trademark tinkering at the non-waiver trade deadline and added ancillary pieces, but there's scant reason to believe Seattle can overtake Oakland鈥攍et alone compete鈥攚ith the AL elite.Colorado Rockies4 of 5Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesThe Colorado Rockies are positioned to compete in atightNL West.They're only 2.0 games behind the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks (who are a half-game away from the second wild-card berth) and 2.5 behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers.After making the NL Wild Card Game in 2017, a return to the postseason is within their grasp.Now, the wet blanket: The Rockies own a minus-16 run differential and their bullpen's 5.13 ERA ranks 28th in baseball, ahead of only the Miami Marlins and Kansas City Royals.Most damningly, the Rockies made no significant moves at the July 31 trade deadline. They're technically in the thick of the race, but all signs point to them missing the dance.New York Yankees5 of 5Julie Jacobson/Associated PressTo be clear: The New York Yankees will almost certainly make the playoffs.Despite trailing the archrival Boston Red Sox by nine games, they hold the American League's top wild-card slot. The odds of two teams overtaking them and bumping them off the October stage are slim to none.If and when they get to the playoffs, however http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-rick-porcello-jersey , the Yanks could be in trouble.Star slugger Aaron Judge is on the disabled list with a wrist injury and still can't swing a bat. Catcher Gary Sanchez (groin) is likewise sidelined.New York also has serious questions in the starting rotation, even after adding J.A. Happ (who's missed time with hand, foot and mouth disease) and Lance Lynn at the trade deadline.Luis Severino, the club's ace for most of the season, is wrestling with an extended, ill-timed slump. Could the team count on him in an AL Wild Card Game?A deep bullpen and potent offense (health provided) make the Yankees possibleWorld Series contenders. But there are a lot of troubling "ifs" in the Bronx.All statistics current entering play Wednesday and courtesy of MLB.com and Baseball Reference. Stephen Brashear/Getty ImagesVeteran outfielder Ichiro Suzuki will be part of the Seattle Mariners' active roster when the team plays the Oakland Athletics in Japan, MLB.com's Greg Johns reported Tuesday.Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said the team will "presumably" only include Ichiro on the squad for the two-game Japan Series. Seattle and Oakland are allowed 28 players on the active roster for the series, compared to the 25-man limit for normal regular-season games.Ichiro played 15 games for the Mariners in 2018, his last appearance coming in the team's 3-2 defeat to the A's on May 2. A day later, Seattle agreed to a special arrangement with the 44-year-old in which he unofficially remained a member of the team without counting as an active player.His agent told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal in May he wasn't officially retiring and that playing in the Japan Series remained an option. Dipoto told reporters Tuesday the team is planning on having him at spring training as well, per Johns:"Ichi will be in spring training with us http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-brandon-morrow-jersey , and we're going to give him an opportunity as both a coaching presence and a player presence. We're still a long way off from Opening Day next year, but you will see Ichiro taking at-bats in Peoria, and we'll assess where we are at that time. But don't be surprised if you see him running around out there when we get to Tokyo next year early in the season."Having Ichiro play in Japan would be a nice moment. Beyond that, it's hard to see how he could maintain an on-field role with the Mariners.In his 18th season, he batted .205 before Seattle shut him down for the year. As a member of the Miami Marlins in 2017, he had a .255/.318/.332 slash line and was worth minus-0.1 WAR, per FanGraphs.The Japan Series could at least give fans one more opportunity to see Ichiro in a Mariners jersey before he calls it a career.